NCAA and Pennsylvania Officials Ask to Put Lawsuit on Hold

File photo by Steve Bauer/StateCollege.com
Gov. Tom Corbett is among those being sued by the NCAA.

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The NCAA's federal lawsuit against top Pennsylvania officials could be placed on the back burner while lawyers attempt to negotiate a settlement.

The lawsuit, filed by the NCAA on Feb. 20, 2013, asks a judge to declare the Endowment Act illegal.

The Endowment Act was passed by the Pennsylvania legislature after the NCAA fined Penn State $60 million in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The act requires that the $60 million fine be spent in Pennsylvania.

The NCAA filed suit against Gov. Thomas Corbett, Treasurer Rob McCord, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in the U.S. Middle District Court just hours after Corbett signed the act into law. The NCAA claims the legislation is unconstitutional.

In June, Judge Yvette Kane denied the defendants' request to throw out the lawsuit. At that time, Kane also ordered a conference between all relevant parties on August 14 to discuss the future of the lawsuit.

A court document filed by attorneys for both sides on Wednesday asks Kane for a 30 day postponement of the case, "so that the parties may conduct settlement negotiations in an effort to amicably resolve this matter."

The Endowment Act was introduced by Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) and passed both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature with overwhelming support.

The legislation requires that any institution of higher education that receives state appropriated funds and has been given a penalty of $10 million or more from an outside governing body must establish an endowment that will distribute the funds into the Commonwealth.

Corman is involved in a separate lawsuit at the state level, which seeks to force the NCAA to comply with the Endowment Act.

Sandusky was convicted for sexually abusing young boys over a period of many years. He's currently serving 30 to 60 years in state prison.

Steve Bauer was the Managing Editor of StateCollege.com. Steve and his wife Trina are longtime area residents. They reside in State College along with a wacky Golden Retriever named Izzy.
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